A phylogeny of the highly diverse cup-fungus family Pyronemataceae (Pezizomycetes, Ascomycota) clarifies relationships and evolution of selected life history traits

► A Pyronemataceae s. str., composed of 10 strongly-supported lineages, is delimited. ► Ectomycorrhiza evolved from a saprobic lifestyle 7-8 times in Pyronemataceae s. l. ► An obligate bryosymbiotic life strategy originated only twice in Pezizomycetes. ► Carotenoids are ancestral in Pyronemataceae excluding early diverging lineages. ► Ascomatal hairs and spore guttulation in Pyronemataceae s. str. are prone to shifts.